Motorcycle dealers have reported strong orders for 2015 with a significant number experiencing their highest ever winter results, according to finance provider Close Brothers Motor Finance.
National Motorcycle Manager Chris Reid said: “Many of our dealer partners have found sales of new bikes to be at an all-time high for the first quarter.
“It appears that despite the strong year enjoyed by the industry in 2014, the demand for new motorcycles has not yet peaked and continues to rise at an unprecedented rate.
“We believe this growth has been influenced by the unseasonably mild winter, which has led to greater interest among consumers, with many looking to purchase a new bike and get out on the road much earlier than in previous years.
“The influx of new models such as the Yamaha R1, Kawasaki Ninja H2, MV Agusta Dragster and Ducati Scrambler helped to create a surge in orders, attracting both new and existing riders to the market, while also generating part-exchanges which have helped to kick-start sales of used machines.”
Reid added: “The growth reflects a buoyant industry and the outlook for the rest of 2015 is positive, as our dealer partners have seen increased sales of bikes of all shapes and sizes, from all manufacturers.
“The success is partly due to the greater level of financial support available to riders through products such as PCP and other dealer finance.”